Islamabad: The Foreign Office on Thursday reiterated that the Islamic State (IS) has no presence in Pakistan amid reports that a group of 20 people left the country for Syria recently to join the ultra-radical Middle Eastern group.
“We have seen media reports that certain elements trying to associate themselves with Da’ish have been arrested, and that investigations are going on,” FO spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said, using another name IS is widely known by. He was speaking at his weekly news briefing in Islamabad.
He made it clear, however, that IS has no ‘footprint’ in Pakistan. “We will not tolerate even the shadow of Da’ish in Pakistan. We have alerted our security agencies to the threat posed by Da’ish. They will take appropriate action if required,” Qazi said.
His statement came amid reports that three women from Lahore had left for Syria and their children to join IS. An FIR registered initially alleged that. The women kidnaped the children. Still, Lahore Deputy Inspector General Haider Ashraf later told BBC Urdu that they were all members of the same family.
The development came to light a day after security forces claimed to bust a group of eight people accused of trying to recruit people in Sialkot for IS.
Pakistan-India talks
Answering a question, Qazi said Pakistan and India are finalizing the date for foreign secretaries’ talks in Islamabad.
The foreign-secretary level talks, part of the agreement reached between the two countries to resume the peace process, will work out the modalities and schedule of the meetings of various segments under the dialogue.
Asked to comment on reports of new constructions planned by India along the Line of Control (LoC), the spokesperson said Pakistan would take up the issue during the comprehensive bilateral dialogue, including a peace and security segment.
 in Syria, the Foreign Office underlined on Thursday that IS had no presence in Pakistan.){kind=link}